◾️ On September 1-3, 2004, Russia endured one of the most horrific tragedies in its modern history – the inhuman Beslan terrorist attack.
22 years ago, a festive back-to-school ceremony at School No.1 was shattered by bursts of gunfire.
The terrorists took 1,128 people hostage – children, their parents and teachers. They were forced into a cramped gymnasium, which the terrorists turned into a deadly trap. For nearly three days, the hostages were held at gunpoint without food or water.
For hundreds of families, those three days lasted an eternity.
During the counterterrorism operation, 811 people were rescued. But, to our great sorrow, not all could be saved.
🕯 The terrorist attack claimed 334 lives, including 186 children.
We remember and mourn the children, their parents and teachers who perished during those terrible September days. We bow our heads before the courage of those who entered the school rigged with explosives, carried children out under fire and rescued hostages, risking and sacrificing their own lives.
Beslan will forever remain our shared pain – a wound that does not heal with time.
💬 As President of Russia Vladimir Putin said on September 4, 2004:
What happened in Beslan was an inhuman terrorist crime, unprecedented in its cruelty. It was a challenge to all of Russia, to our entire people. It was an attack on our country.
The terrorists believe they are stronger than us. That they can intimidate us with their cruelty, paralyse our will and tear our society apart. And it may seem that we have a choice – to fight back or accept their demands. To surrender, to allow Russia to be destroyed and torn apart in the hope that they will eventually leave us alone.
I am convinced that in reality we simply have no choice.
We were and always will be stronger than them – through our moral values, our courage and our human solidarity. I saw that again last night.
***
In memory of the victims of Beslan and other terrorist attacks, Russia observes the Day of Solidarity in the Fight Against Terrorism on September 3.
On this day, we remember all our compatriots who were killed by terrorists in Beslan, at Dubrovka, in Budyonnovsk, in the apartment bombings in Moscow, Buynaksk and Volgodonsk, in the horrific Crocus City Hall tragedy, at the hands of Ukrainian militants in Donbass and the Kursk Region, in other terrorist attacks.
❗️ Russia considers it its duty to consistently combat international terrorism, promote the consolidation of international efforts against this pure evil and counter all its manifestations – including those perpetrated by neo-Nazis in Ukraine and other ideological followers of misanthropic ideologies.
Despite the hybrid war unleashed against us – against Russia and the Russian people – by the “collective West”, including through terrorist and extremist groups of all stripes, Russia remains firmly committed to a principled fight against the terrorist threat and to strengthening counterterrorism security, relying on cooperation with partners genuinely interested in this work.
– briefing by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, August 28, 2024
📷 © Head of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Sergey Menyaylo
